Apple has made a significant change to its Pages app by removing the option to directly publish eBooks to Apple Books. This update affects authors and publishers who previously enjoyed the convenience of creating and distributing their books through a single tool.
The announcement came via an email sent to publishers on April 3, 2025. On the same day, Apple rolled out Pages version 14.4, which removed the “Publish to Apple Books” feature. Although the option still appears in the Pages menu on Mac, it no longer functions as it once did.
A Sudden Move with Little Warning
The decision took many by surprise, particularly authors outside the U.S. Many users were just finishing their workday when they received the notification. iPad users, in particular, noticed the feature had already disappeared without any prior notice.
This change is a significant departure from Apple’s earlier decision to merge its iBooks Author app into Pages in 2020, a move that promised a seamless publishing experience. The recent update marks a shift away from that commitment, leaving many users scrambling to adapt.
A New Route for Publishing
Now, instead of publishing directly from Pages, authors must export their books as ePub files and manually upload them via the Apple Books for Authors portal. This extra step mirrors the process used by self-published authors on platforms like Amazon Kindle, eliminating the convenience that Pages once provided for in-app distribution.
While Apple has not provided an official explanation for the change, some speculate that it may be tied to the recent introduction of AI-powered writing tools in iWork apps. This could signal a shift in Apple’s focus, from facilitating publishing to enhancing content creation through artificial intelligence.
Impact on Independent Authors and Publishers
This update may cause frustration for independent authors and smaller publishers who relied on Pages for its simplicity and all-in-one publishing capabilities. Many will now have to adjust to a more complicated workflow or seek third-party alternatives to publish on Apple Books.
As Apple continues to refine its software offerings, writers are gaining access to more advanced tools. However, these tools come with the trade-off of fewer shortcuts, leaving the future of digital publishing on Apple’s platform uncertain. How easily creators can adapt to these changes will likely determine the future of Apple’s role in the digital publishing space.